Nine weeks ago, my kids’ world was turned upside down and everything they were used to went dark. Our school district, Cherry Creek School District, announced an extended spring break… which didn’t mean much since our plans for the break were all cancelled. No Spring Training in Arizona for my son, mom, or myself. No business trip to Houston. No sleepovers for my daughter.

And then a week later, the school district extended the closure and said that our kids’ were going to now do virtual learning. We waited with trepidation as we had no idea what that would really mean for our first and fourth graders.

With May being Mental Health Awareness month, I have been contemplating sharing my personal reflections on the COVID-19 virus and my personal mental health journey. However, there was something off about sharing this story. The reality is that ever since Colorado began shutting down in March, my mental health has actually improved and I don’t really know how to feel about it.

Parenthood is like nothing else that I have ever experienced. The joy of bringing home my children for the first time and experiencing their firsts is something that I will never forget. From the first time that they smiled, rolled over, crawled, walked, got a hit in baseball, lost a tooth, and so much more. These little human beings have become my everything. I strive to provide for them, help them learn to be good people, and most of all protect them.